CAMDEN — By JACKIE BEVILL
For the Camden News
After a confidence building win Friday night over Strong the Bearden Bears the number four seed out of the 8-2A conference will travel to Mt. Ida to play the Lions the number three seed from 7-2A in a first round game of the state play-offs. It is a common known fact that when the state play-offs start every schools record is 0-0 with one goal in mind and that is to play for the state championship at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock. Friday night will be the fourth time that Mt. Ida and Bearden have met on the gridiron all of them state play-off games with the Bears leading two games to one. In 2007, the Lions kicked a 22 yard field goal to beat Bearden 17 to 16 with only five seconds left in the game. In 2011, the Bears won 31 to 6 in a second round game and again in 2013 by a score of 39 to 0 with both games played at Rogers Field in Bearden.
Mt. Ida is coached by Michael White, a veteran coach who has compiled an outstanding 121-44 record at the school. Just like Rison he uses the split Back Veer offense playing power football while using a 5-3 defensive alignment with the Lions. At quarterback he has Cade Jackson - a senior (5’10, 165) who was all-district last year. He has operated the team’s Veer since the third grade. All-State senior halfback Jonathan LaGrange (6’1, 220 pounds, 4.8 speed) punishes defenses with his physical running ability. Senior all-conference slotback, Gage Dyer has 4.6 speed and he makes big plays on field with his excellent vision. He is also a dangerous kick and punt returner for the Lions.
When Mt. Ida passes the ball they have some good receivers in Colton Yates, Tyler Hamilton and Jaythan Dillon. They have some big lineman led by Kirklyn Sorrell (6’3, 265), Hunter Humphries (6’4, 295) Oscar Pinedo (5’10, 245), Ethan Winkley (6’0, 220) plus they have a big senior class that has played in 39 varsity games counting the 2018 regular season.
With Robert Miller expected to play Friday night, Bearden should be at full strength and with their reserves getting a lot of playing time last week against Strong that will give them some depth for the game at Mt. Ida Friday night with a 7 p.m. kick-off.